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Is finasteride/worth the risk?

  • 14-05-2018 6:44pm
    #1
    Registered Users Posts: 540 ✭✭✭


    Hi lads,

    I'm 20 and suffering from a general thinning of hair loss on top. I've improved my diet, cut out masturbation, changed shampoo and increased the amount I exercise - all to no real effect.

    I'm left with one choice, albeit a risky one - Propecia/finasteride.

    In your view, is it worth the risk, given the possible side effects?

    I should probably mention that I have had erectile dysfunction issues in the past.

    Thanks for any views given.


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Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 6,140 ✭✭✭Passenger


    Not worth it imho but you'll find some that recommend it. It was designed for patients with prostate cancer. They just happened to discover that some of those said patients were experiencing hair regrowth and voilà - a whole new "hair restoration" drug was released. Talk to your GP about it first and not doctors with a vested interested in the hair restoration industry.


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,593 ✭✭✭theteal


    In my shoes (35 and only felt the need to shave it off in the last year) I would not consider it in the slightest. Were I 15 years younger I genuinely don't know if I'd dismiss it so easily, it's a completely different world at that age.

    I suppose it boils down to, do you want to grow tits*, OP?

    *among other side effects


  • Registered Users Posts: 540 ✭✭✭Solomon Pleasant


    Cheers for the replies lads.

    Still unsure, the whole thinning hair thing is definitely getting to me.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 29,930 ✭✭✭✭TerrorFirmer


    It's up to you. No-one can tell you yes, or no.

    However, the risk of side effects are completely overblown. You've realistically about a 1-2% chance of having real side effects. An even smaller percentage of that of suffering serious side effects. And if you did start to suffer some effects, you could just stop taking it and accept that it's not for you.

    It's not risk-free for anyone but you're overwhelmingly likely to not have any side effects, it's hardly the 50/50 gamble it's made out to be.

    It's obviously a tough situation to be in at 20. On the positive side, diffuse thinning usually keeps the hairline intact so if you do decide to take it, you could probably maintain a pretty perfect head of hair indefinitely (most guys start to take it after already suffering a fair bit of hair loss at hairline or crown).


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,946 ✭✭✭_Whimsical_


    It's up to you. No-one can tell you yes, or no.

    However, the risk of side effects are completely overblown. You've realistically about a 1-2% chance of having real side effects. An even smaller percentage of that of suffering serious side effects. And if you did start to suffer some effects, you could just stop taking it and accept that it's not for you.

    It's not risk-free for anyone but you're overwhelmingly likely to not have any side effects, it's hardly the 50/50 gamble it's made out to be.

    It's obviously a tough situation to be in at 20. On the positive side, diffuse thinning usually keeps the hairline intact so if you do decide to take it, you could probably maintain a pretty perfect head of hair indefinitely (most guys start to take it after already suffering a fair bit of hair loss at hairline or crown).

    That's 1or 2 in a hundred. There was a very sad post on the Personal Issues board here about a young man who was affected by this side effect. He was left with non repairable erectile dysfunction at 27. Its such an important thing that even a very small risk is very important to consider.

    OP I know you aren't asking for an opinion on balding but know from a female perspective it's not something that is unattractive and by 30 a lot of your peers will have it. Your health and long term physical wellbeing is so important. You never know too, some less troublesome medical interventions might present themselves in the next few years too if you're still uncomfortable with it.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 26 guestwifi


    Personally I wouldn't consider it, but I'm about a decade older than you with a natural receding hairline and thinning on top (sides are ridiculously fast growing though!). Each to their own though, are you happy with your head shape? Most men can rock the bald by choice look, grow out a beard and embrace the look. If you'd rather keep as much as possible for as long as possible maybe start using Minoxidil (a proper solution, not just the shampoos) to see if that helps.

    There's always someone saying a solution isn't far away but it never seems to arrive, however, an interesting development surfaced earlier this month, clinical trials still need to be held for obvious reasons, but ya never know :)

    https://www.rte.ie/news/newslens/2018/0509/961235-baldness/


  • Registered Users Posts: 98 ✭✭Spencer Winterbotham


    Why did you stop beating off?

    It doesn't lead to hair loss... or loss of sight..


  • Registered Users Posts: 540 ✭✭✭Solomon Pleasant


    Why did you stop beating off?

    It doesn't lead to hair loss... or loss of sight..

    Read a few sources which cited Masturbation as a cause.

    I wasn’t gullible enough to entirely believe them, but drastic times and all that..


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,495 ✭✭✭Will I Am Not


    Read a few sources which cited Masturbation as a cause.

    I wasn’t gullible enough to entirely believe them, but drastic times and all that..

    How would that even happen though? If a woman wanked you off every day would your hair still fall out?


  • Registered Users Posts: 540 ✭✭✭Solomon Pleasant


    How would that even happen though? If a woman wanked you off every day would your hair still fall out?

    Look, I’m losing my hair and trying to make any and all kinds of changes to stop hair loss.

    There are all sorts of claims as to what stops hair loss and what doesn’t. I’m just trying to find something that works for me.


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  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 22,271 CMod ✭✭✭✭Pawwed Rig


    I would say cutting out jizzing would have worse long term effects than losing the hair.


  • Registered Users Posts: 104 ✭✭Patient11


    No taking Finasteride is NOT worth the risk.


    Countless men have had their lives destroyed by the drug.


    There is even a foundation set up for men who dealing with permanent side effects from the drug.


    http://www.pfsfoundation.org/


    http://medsafe.govt.nz/profs/PUArticles/March2016/PostFinasterideSyndrome.htm

    Cbctb7nWwAAkGmZ.jpg


  • Registered Users Posts: 104 ✭✭Patient11



    However, the risk of side effects are completely overblown. You've realistically about a 1-2% chance of having real side effects. An even smaller percentage of that of suffering serious side effects. And if you did start to suffer some effects, you could just stop taking it and accept that it's not for you.

    .




    The problem is for many people the side effects do not go away.


    https://www.nbcnews.com/health/mens-health/hair-loss-drug-propecia-carries-risk-losing-something-else-n731841


  • Registered Users Posts: 34,283 ✭✭✭✭o1s1n
    Master of the Universe


    You have another choice, shave your head and grow a beard.


  • Registered Users Posts: 271 ✭✭jimosterberg


    Or another choice - Tricopigmentation. Can look very well on guys who are suited to a shaved head. Restores the hairline and gives the look of a full head of tightly shaved hair.


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,322 ✭✭✭JustAThought


    Bizzarely was looking up my old Doctor today who was a seriously on the ball guy - I had to move location & lost him as a doctor unfortunately - I knew he was retraining in plastic surgery but saw today that he has specialised in hair restoration -I assume this is transplants as it mentions huge amount of new qualifications . Maybe worth checking him out - or making a pwrsonal or telephone appointment with a notepad handy to discuss options - his name is Dr Sam Von Eeden. Great guy.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,033 ✭✭✭pearcider


    OP go to your doctor. They're the only people qualified to give an opinion on finasteride as they have access to the peer reviewed data which shows 1) finasteride is safe and 2) it works. It's pure hysteria in this thread. Some of the posters have very dubious posting histories.

    Fact is, ALL prescription only drugs have side effects for the 1% or less. Does this stop us using them routinely? No. If it works, we take it and don't really give it a moment thought. Finasteride will stop your hair loss dead and give you good regrowth on the areas not slick bald. I recommend it. But as I said it's prescription only so you will need to see a doctor anyway. Don't listen to the scare mongering from the baldies in the thread.


  • Registered Users Posts: 21,971 ✭✭✭✭Esel


    pearcider wrote: »
    OP go to your doctor. They're the only people qualified to give an opinion on finasteride as they have access to the peer reviewed data which shows 1) finasteride is safe and 2) it works. It's pure hysteria in this thread. Some of the posters have very dubious posting histories.

    Fact is, ALL prescription only drugs have side effects for the 1% or less. Does this stop us using them routinely? No. If it works, we take it and don't really give it a moment thought. Finasteride will stop your hair loss dead and give you good regrowth on the areas not slick bald. I recommend it. But as I said it's prescription only so you will need to see a doctor anyway. Don't listen to the scare mongering from the baldies in the thread.

    1% ???

    Serious misrepresentation there.

    Not your ornery onager



  • Registered Users Posts: 1,531 ✭✭✭Benicetomonty


    How would that even happen though? If a woman wanked you off every day would your hair still fall out?

    And would you care?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,292 ✭✭✭TheBoyConor


    I use a topical solution of finasteride and minoxidil.
    I read some studies about topical fin and it's apparently similar benefits compared to oral and decided to make my own.
    I grind down 5mg Profal tablets and dissolve them into the minoxidil solution to give a dose of 0.3mg fin per ml with one ml applied morning and evening.

    My hair is noticeably thicker and I have no side effects. I'm happy with it anyway and plan to continue.

    Generic finasteride, Profal, and generic minoxidil is very very cheap. Like about €40 for six months worth.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 5,322 ✭✭✭JustAThought


    Patient11 wrote: »
    No taking Finasteride is NOT worth the risk.


    Countless men have had their lives destroyed by the drug.


    There is even a foundation set up for men who dealing with permanent side effects from the drug.


    http://www.pfsfoundation.org/


    http://medsafe.govt.nz/profs/PUArticles/March2016/PostFinasterideSyndrome.htm

    Cbctb7nWwAAkGmZ.jpg

    PENILE SHRINKAGE.
    Jesus wept.
    No way.

    And a long list of other side effects - yhe younger the man the higher the risk. Ill stuck to quackery and anything else first.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,194 ✭✭✭Conservatory


    Just shave it op and don’t let it bother you. Baldness is not unattractive. Insecurity is.

    It’s like cellulite on women. It doesn’t bother most men but a whole industry is set up to make you feel insecure about it to sell you stuff.

    Learn to accept your genetics.


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 60,027 Mod ✭✭✭✭Wibbs


    It’s like cellulite on women. It doesn’t bother most men but a whole industry is set up to make you feel insecure about it to sell you stuff.
    Sure, but give your average guy in their twenties the choice between with a woman with smooth toned skin or the pocked cottage cheese skin of cellulite and the majority would be happier with the latter. It;s not a deal breaker by any means, but let's face it we all are attracted to the most attractive features. So it is with balding.
    Learn to accept your genetics.
    If we did that then at least half of the men reading this wouldn't have survived to adulthood without antibiotics, immunisation and all the rest of modern medicine. If god forbid you have a cardiac problem will you refuse meds and stents and "accept your genetics"? I doubt it.

    This is not to say if a chap gives not a jot and goes for the old shave it all off that's not to be admired. It is to say if another chap chooses to do something about it, rather than go the all too trite response of "live with it" then fair play to him too. These days we have more and more choices in such things, I don't see why one choice is considered more valuable than another.

    Rejoice in the awareness of feeling stupid, for that’s how you end up learning new things. If you’re not aware you’re stupid, you probably are.



  • Registered Users Posts: 3,946 ✭✭✭spaceHopper


    I'm tinning and to lazy/ bussy to get my every 3 weeks but when it's neat and tidy it looks so much better than when it's long.

    OP if it's going to happen it will. Nothing you can do, pills and lotions all start out claiming a cure, with regrowth then soften than down to some men keep the hair they have.

    I wouldn't take the risk of permanent ED for a full head of hair. Save yourself the hassle and heart ache. Go to the GP's get a blood work done to see there is no under ling cause, if you had ED before get them to check your Testosterone level too. Then move on be happy go to the gym, dress well nobody will notice or care about the tinning as much as you.


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,949 ✭✭✭TheMilkyPirate


    I really don't get men who take Finasteride. Balding sucks I know I started losing my hair at 22 but there is no way I would ever risk anything to do with my manhood especially for my hair of all things.

    Would you rather a full head of hair or a penis that works? It's just not anywhere near worth the risk for me.

    Like the last poster said shave your head go to the gym and dress well, Nobody will even care about your hair.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,292 ✭✭✭TheBoyConor


    I use finasteride with no ill effects. I've been using it with 2 years.

    Tbh, given the choice between hair and rock hard erections, I'd be strongly inclined to choose hair.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,194 ✭✭✭Conservatory


    I use finasteride with no ill effects. I've been using it with 2 years.

    Tbh, given the choice between hair and rock hard erections, I'd be strongly inclined to choose hair.

    That’s the finasteroid talking


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,949 ✭✭✭TheMilkyPirate


    I use finasteride with no ill effects. I've been using it with 2 years.

    Tbh, given the choice between hair and rock hard erections, I'd be strongly inclined to choose hair.

    Wow OK. Your choice but I will never understand that.


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,322 ✭✭✭JustAThought


    I use finasteride with no ill effects. I've been using it with 2 years.

    Tbh, given the choice between hair and rock hard erections, I'd be strongly inclined to choose hair.

    Fine for you but your girlfriend might have a lot to say about that choice. Hair dosnt exactly provide that rock hard satisfaction that is the solid foundation of any healthy adult relationship.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,292 ✭✭✭TheBoyConor


    Well I have no girlfriend and have no intention of acquiring one any time soon so it's a moot point.

    And as I said, I use finasteride & minoxidil and have no side effects in that department. Blasting away like mad! :)


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